Ophthalmic mountings



1957 E. L. SCHUMACHER 2,811,079

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGS Filed Aug. 8, 1952 9 m r Bi -Meg SGHUMA-CHEYR .219 52g; 10-

ATTOBNEY OPHTHALNIIC MOUNTINGS Elmer L. Schumacher, Southbridge, Mass., assignor to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application August 8, 1952, Serial No. 303,339

1 Claim. (Cl. 88-47) This invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic mountings and has particular reference to improved lens supporting structures of the semi-rimless type.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide an ophthalmic mounting embodying non-circular lenses having a preformed upper contour shape and outwardly curved portions adjacent the upper nasal and temporal sides thereof and a supporting structure comprising a pair of metallic lens supporting arms each of which has an intermediate resilient portion pre-shaped substantially to the shape of the upper contour of a lens to be connected therewith and having curved relatively rigid depending end portions pre-shaped to fit and to follow the outwardly curved nasal and temporal portions of the lenses, with the extreme ends thereof turned inwardly to fit beneath the protruding curved temporal and nasal portions, the intermediate resilient portions of the arms being of relatively small cross-sectional dimension in comparison with the cross-sectional dimensions of the depending portions to provide resiliency whereby the depending portions may be spread apart and released to grippingly engage with the outwardly curved portions, the inner surface of each curved relatively rigid depending end portion being channelled to form cup-like portions for receiving the outwardly curved portions of the respective lenses.

Another object is to provide a lens supporting structure of the above character wherein the channel extends throughout the length of the arm with the portions of the channel in the depending portions of the arm being relatively deep and narrow whereby they will assume a relatively intimate gripping fit with the adjacent edges of the lenses, and the portion of the channel in the upper or intermediate portion of the arm is of reduced depth and increased width for permitting free resilient action of said intermediate portion and to permit lenses of different base curvatures or of different meniscus shapes to be readily assembled therewith without requiring the intermediate portions of the arms to be altered from the shape to which they are initially formed.

Another object is to provide an ophthalmic mounting of the above character which, while having a desirable cosmetic appearance, has dimensional characteristics and positional relation of parts such as will provide a maximum field of corrected vision for the eyes, desirable fitting qualities, and a firm and interchangeable retaining action with the lenses.

Another object is to provide an ophthalmic mounting of the above character with lenses which may be edged to desired size and shape in a conventional manner and which may be positioned directly in assembled relation with the lens supporting structure without requiring additional operations to be performed thereon.

Another object is to provide a novel ophthalmic mounting which is comparatively simple in construction, efiicient in its use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

States Patent 2,811,079 Patented Oct. 29, 1957 ICE Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an ophthalmic mounting embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mounting shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a lens shaped for use in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 6 illustrating a feature of the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a modification of the invention.

Ophthalmic mountings embodying semi-rimless lens supporting structures which are adapted to snap onto the edges of a pair of lenses to be attached thereto have sometimes proven to be somewhat impractical and inefiicient for various reasons. One of the detrimental factors is that the proper amount of resiliency is generally not provided because of the design of the particular lens supporting members being used; another is that various lenses of different base curvatures cannot generally be attached to a supporting structure without alteration of the lens supporting members from their initial shapes; another is that means is not generally provided for a snug, intimate and yieldable fit between the lenses and the lens supporting members such as will prevent accidental displacement of the lenses during normal usage and which also will prevent undesired tilting movement of the lenses relative to the lens supporting members in a direction toward and away from the face of the wearer.

The present invention overcomes the above and other objections to prior art snap on frames by providing a novel ophthalmic mounting having several improved features, the combination of which results in a more practical and efiicient construction and one which is desirably attractive in appearance.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the mounting embodying the invention comprises a pair of metallic lens supporting rims 10 connected on the nasal sides thereof by a bridge member 11 and having connected to the temporal sides thereof endpieces 12 to which temples 13 are pivotally attached as illustrated at 14. The bridge 11 and endpieces 12 are preferably formed of metal and are secured to the rims by soldering, welding or other suitable means. The particular type of metal used for the rims 10 preferably has resilient characteristics, some satisfactory materials being stainless steel, nickel, beryllium copper or the like which may be gold filled if desired. p

The rims 10, throughout the length of the intermediate upper portions 15 thereof, are shaped to follow the contour shape of the upper contour edges of lenses 16 to be supported thereby and are each provided with a downwardly extending nasal portion 17 and a downwardly extending temporal portion 18.

The lenses are formed with outwardly curved nasal and temporal protuberances or bulges 19 and 20 respectively over which the portions 17 and 18 of the rim 10 are fitted. The lower portion of the lenses 16 depend from the rims 10 and are preferably not enclosed by rims in any manner, the depending portions 17 and 18 of the rims 10 being pre-shaped to follow the contour edges of the curved protuberances or bulges 19 and 20 of the lenses and having their extreme ends formed to the'shape of the sides of the lenses immediately below the bulges. Thus the rim portions 17 and 18 areprovided withportions underlying the curved protuberances or bulges 19 and 2t) and thus prevent the lenses from dropping out. The outer surfaces of the depending portions 17 and 18 taper downwardly and inwardly to substantially pointed ends for a pleasing blend with the edges of the lenses.

A channel 21 is provided throughoutthe inner surfaces of the intermediate portion of the rim and is relatively wide and shallow as shown best in Fig. 4. The channel 21 blends into other channels 22 and 23 formed in the inner surfaces of the depending nasal and temporal portions17 and 18. However, the channels 22 and 23 are relatively deep and narrow, as shown in Fig. 5, and thus the adjacent edges of the curved protuberances 19 and of the lenses 16 are adapted torelatively intimately fit within the channels 22-and 23. The shallow and wide channels 21 which extend throughout the length of the intermediate portions 15 of the rims 10 are adapted to receive the edges of the lenses of different meniscus shapes as shown in Figs. 6-9, without changing the initial coquilling or curvature to which said upper rim portions 15 are initially formed.

It is particularly pointed out that the lens 24 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is provided with a greater cupping, or curvature of shorter radius, than the lens in Fig. 9 which is a comparatively flat lens, both of which lenses 24 and 25 can be positioned in the channel 21. The edges of both the nasal and temporal protuberances of both lenses 24 and 25 will, however, fit snugly in the channels 22 and 23 in the respective depending nasal and temporal portions 17 and 18.

The intermediate upper contour portion 15 of each rim 10 is formed relatively thin in comparison to the depending nasal and temporal portions 17 and 13 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Also, the channel 21, as described above, is relatively wide in comparison to channels 22 and 23. Thus, resiliency is provided in the intermediate upper contour portion 15 of an amount sufncient to permit the relatively rigid depending portions 17 and 18 to be spread apart for insertion or removal of a lens 16. When assembled with a lens 16, the depending portions17 and 18, which are initially provided with a predetermined set which is such as to require the spreading of the relatively rigid end portions 17 and 18 to receive the lenses, are continually urged by the inherent resiliency of the intermediate portion 15 into intimate gripping engagement with the edges of the outwardly curved protuberances 19 and 20 of the lenses. That is, when the mounting is disassembled from the lenses the distance between the relatively rigid end portions is less than the Width of the lenses so that when the lenses are positioned in the rims a permanent resilient tong-like gripping action is maintained.

The horizontal geometric axis of the lens 16 is indicated by line BB (Fig. 3) and the vertical geometric axis by line C-C, the intersection 26 of axes BB and CC being the geometric center of the lens. The optical center is positioned at a predetermined point on the optical axis AA which is generally located above the horizontal geometric axis and in this case is within the widest area of the lens 16.

It is particularly pointed out that the contour shape of the lenses are so controlled thattheir greatest widths are along a diagonally disposed line substantially as indicated by line 27 in Fig. 3 and that the opposed side edges 28 and 29 of the respective outwardly curved protuberances or bulges 19 and 29 (Fig. 3) from said points of greatest width converge in a downward direction'in a smoothly curved manner and blend respectively at 30 and 31' into the adjacent contour edges 32 and 36 of the lower portion of the lens 16. However, due to the upsweep of the presently described mounting, the blending area 30 i on the temporal side of the lens 16 is preferably located at or adjacent to the horizontal geometric axis BB while the opposed blending area 31 is located substantially below axis B-B.

The temporal depending rim portions 18 terminate at the blending areas 30 while the nasal portions 17 terminate at the blending areas 31 and are preferably shaped to the shape of the edges of the lenses below the bulges as described above. This arrangement not only provides a supporting structure which is structurally strong but also one which is attractive and neat in appearance.

it is particularly pointed out that the major portion of the supportingstructure is above the useful field of vision and the structure, including the lenses, is preferably designed higher on the temporal sides than on the nasal sides to increase this effect where it is most needed. Also the bulges 19 and 21) are so dimensioned vertically as to provide maximum width of vision throughout the normal distance portions of the lenses and the narrowing of the lower portions of the lenses will have no detrimental effeet in this respect for the vision through said lower portions is used mostly for near vision and may be corrected by means of segments 37 located in the lower portions.

The nasal depending portions 17 of the lens 10 have attached thereto approximately midway thereof pad arms 34 which are adapted to be positioned in an established spaced relation with each other to meet the requirements of most individuals. The pad arms 34 have nose pads 35 pivotally connected therewith and affording means for adjusting such parts to difierent widths and angles of noses as is common practice in the art.

It is pointed out that the points of attachment of the pad arms 34 with the nasal rim sections 17 are on the horizontal geometric axis BB of the lenses 16, which has been established as a standard in the ophthalmic art to permit the proper truing of the mounting.

It is apparent that the lower portions of the depending temporal nasal portions 17 and 13 are in converging relation to introduce the proper resilient gripping action, the said resiliency being that of the inherent resiliency of the material of the upper contour rim portions 15, the depending portions 17 and 18, due to their increased size being relatively rigid. The inwardly converging end portions of the downwardly extending temporal and nasal rim sections 13 and 17 respectively, while introducing a tonglhse gripping action on the lenses, also tend to force the lenses in an upward direction and to cause the upper edges thereof to intimately engage the base of the channel 21. With this construction, and due to the fact that the channels 22 and 23 in the respective depending nasal and temporal portions 17 and 18 are narrow and in intimate gripping relation with the lenses, it is apparent that'there will be little, if any, tendency for the lenses to tipv forwardly or rearwardly in the supporting structure.

Although the rims 14 are initially shaped to the respective contour edges of the lenses with which they fit, the depending portions 17 and 18 have an initial spaced relation with each other which is less than the horizontal dimension of the lens through the area thereof of greatest width so that when the lens is placed therein the said depending portions will spread through the inherent resiliency of the upper rim portions 15 to permit. the lenses to be placed therebetween and to be resiliently held with a tong-like action; It is apparent also that the lenses may be quickly and easily interchanged by manually forcing them inwardly or outwardly of the rims 10. It is further pointed out that the'contour edges of the lenses in the areas of engagement with the rims it) are preferably provided with opposed bevels 36, which bevels 36 maybe formed by common commercial standard-edging techniques, the remaining contour edges of the lenses preferably being substantially fiat.

To insure proper resiliency of the intermediate portion 15, the shallow channel 21.-may be entirely eliminated, f desired, as shown in Fig. 10. It is pointed out, however,

that the width of the intermediate portion is still such as to accommodate for lenses of different meniscus shapes as set forth above. With this arrangement, the rigid portions 17 and 13 only are provided with deep and narrow channels to form cup-like portions for intimately receiving the respective nasal and temporal bulges 19 and 20 of the lenses.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that all of the objects and advantages of the invention have been accomplished. However, it will also be apparent that many changes may be made in the arrangement of parts shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter shown or described should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In an ophthalmic mounting, the combination of a pair of lenses having a preformed contour shape embodying sidewise bulging portions on the upper part of their nasal and temporal sides, the upper contour of which bulging portions blend with the adjacent intermediate top contour of the lenses, and thence curve outwardly, downwardly and inwardly to blend with the side portions of the contour edge of the lower area of the lens at points at least as low as the horizontal geometric axis of the lens to produce an area of greatest width above the geometric center of the lens and in which the optical center of the lens is usually located at a predetermined point above the geometric center whereby a maximum field of corrected vision on the opposed sides of said optical center is provided above the horizontal geometric axis of the lens, a pair of metallic lens contour following members joined by an intermediate bridge and each of which lens contour following members includes a relatively long and narrow resilient intermediate portion of substantially uniform cross-section which extends along the top contour of said lenses and the upper contour of said bulging portions thereof, said members terminating in relatively rigid downwardly and inwardly curving depending end portions which are preshaped to follow along the sides and lower contour of said bulging portions of the lenses, and said lens contour following members being channelled on their lens-edge-directed side to receive the adjacent edge of said lenses, the channel throughout the intermediate portion of said members being of relatively shallow depth and having a controlled width greater than the thickness of the adjacent top edge of the lenses by an amount sufficient to accommodate differently forwardly cupped top edges without requiring bending of said resilient intermediate portions, said channel increasing in depth and narrowing in width throughout the depending portions to provide relatively deep seats which relatively intimately and resiliently grip said bulging portions of the lenses to hold said lenses against tilting and against displacement from assembled relation with the lens contour following members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,112,644 Bausch Mar. 29, 1938 2,389,742 Rey Nov. 27, 1945 2,627,783 Splaine Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 965,781 France Feb. 22, 1950 968,497 France Apr. 26, 1950 977,995 France Nov. 22, 1950 

